GM Apple Insect Resistance Codling moth (Cydia pomonella L.) has been known to infest 95% of apples when left uncontrolled. Its larvae cause damage by boring into the fruit. The pest is controlled by routinely applying insecticides although this may may lead to development of insecticide resistance. The Western United States is already experiencing problems of codling moth resistance particularly to the organophosphate insecticide, azinphosmethyl.
Roxanne Broadway of the Department of Entomology at Cornell University, Geneva, NY (USA) is developing ways to control insect pests by transforming apples to produce proteolytic and chitinolytic enzymes. Proteases act by disrupting digestive enzymes of the insects causing it to starve to death. Chitinases on the other hand destroy the polysaccharide found in the guts and exoskeletons of insects. |
Related Topics: Summary Report on the Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops - [View the 2004 report] Transgenic Crops - [Click Here] Extensive Study on Bt Cotton - [Click Here] Download the complete copy of the ISAAA Briefs on Global Status/Review of GM Crops - [Click Here] SciDev.Net's dossier on GM crops - [Click here] Global Status of Approved Genetically Modified Plants - [Click here] |
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